We need both storage *and* generation.
Storage will start becoming ever more important, as not all of our generation is 24/7 - solar, and wind are time dependant although solar production is highly predictable, hence easier to integrate.
We should be building more hydro generation / storage right now, as projects take years to build.
Medupi and Kusile are both coal spewing environmental nightmares waiting to happen.
Eskom was lent money by the world bank with the mandate that they install coal scrubbers to remove sulphur dioxides - they're now arguing that they're way over budget, and way over schedule, and don't want to spend the extra to install.
IPP's are however ready to take up the slack, we just need to let them bid on providing power. Eskom is extremely recalcitrant to do so. Every time the meagre allowances they give out are oversubscribed by 4-500%. Its time that NERSA actually did something and opened up IPP so that we don't have to wait another 10 years or more for our electricity generation to reach that of the late 90's. We've actually got less working capacity now than 20 years ago. Our economy is growing ever smaller due to this and the ANC's other wonderful interventions in ruining our once world class infrastructure.
